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| SPORTS - July 29, 2008 |
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| Raptors new roster not that much better |
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By Andrew Coffey
Leader Staff
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Last year’s NBA season had it all. The Celtics went from worst to first in the Eastern Conference. San Antonio made it to the playoffs as usual but couldn’t survive against the Kobe Bryant-led Lakers. Shaq fizzled out in the Arizona desert and LeBron didn’t have enough to get Cleveland back to the finals.
And, of course, there was the usual — the Toronto Raptors once again underachieved. Hope for Raptors fans would have to be born in offseason trades.
Indeed, not long after the season had ended, trade rumors swirled around Baron Davis, Elton Brand and Jermaine O’Neal, who has long had the Raptor’s eye.
The Portland Trailblazers drafted O’Neal in 1996, but the forward-centre flourished after his trade to Indiana in 2000. His stats have been impressive, but O’Neal at 29 isn’t going to continue putting up big numbers. And Toronto gave up a lot of talent to get him for a blockbuster Bosh-O’Neal front court.
T.J. Ford on the other hand, who was dealt in the trade for O’Neal, is a rising star in the NBA. The Texas product has performed well in his first two seasons, and his stock is only going to rise.
The rights to 2008 draft pick Roy Hibbert however, could hurt Toronto down the road more than the loss of Ford. Not only did they give up a promising young guard, they have let Hibbert, a rare athletic 7’2" centre, slip through their hands. Hibbert would have been a top-three pick in the 2007 draft had he not decided to come back for a second season at Georgetown.
Let’s see, a forward-centre on the decline, or two promising young stars ready to break out? The Raptors were simply robbed. O’Neal has struggled with injuries the past two seasons spending most of them off the court. On top of that, O’Neal is not an engaged team leader and has a reputation for pouting if he doesn’t get his way.
And, I don’t need to point out the Atlantic Division hasn’t gotten any easier. In fact, other Atlantic teams have made significant improvements over the offseason.
It’s not all bad news for the Raptors. Centre Nathan Jawai will be a nice addition in the middle, and free agent pickup Hassan Adams is a proven leader on the court, even though he is inexperienced.
But the problem facing the team after the shakeup is the same one they faced last year — too much length in the front court and not enough speedy shot makers. Here’s to another season of mediocrity in Toronto. |
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